The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, The Rt. Hon. Des Browne MP, today announced a new set of innovative initiatives to promote and sustain energy efficiency in the public and voluntary sectors to coincide with the Chancellor’s 2006 Budget Speech.

Among the projects receiving support was the South Kensington Cultural and Academic Estate’s (SKCAE) bid for £2.9m to produce a carbon management programme or “carbon masterplan” as the first step to migrate to a carbon neutral organisation.

SKCAE is principally comprised of The Natural History Museum, The Science Museum, The Victoria and Albert Museum, The Royal Albert Hall and The Imperial College united under a common landlord, The Royal Commission for the Great Exhibition of 1851. The Estate of 87 acres has unique heating, cooling and power demand profiles and taken together, consume 197,294 mWh’s per annum, produce 55,508 tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum and will cost SKCAE nearly £8m in 2006.

Five recent events have stimulated the need to understand the energy consumption profiles of these partners in far greater depth than ever before.

1. The advent of the Emissions Trading Scheme
2. The recent rebound in utility prices
3. The UK Government’s Strategy for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) to 2010
4. The Kyoto Protocol
5. The UK Government’s target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions

SKCAE’s response to these events was an innovative proposal to produce a “Carbon Masterplan” as the first phase of moving to a “carbon neutral” operation. This task will require investment in technology and expertise to fully understand the energy profiles and flows at each SKCAE member so that opportunities for energy and carbon emission reductions can be identified. The Masterplan will provide substantial near-term savings in energy consumption and emissions as well as identify longer-term opportunities to dramatically reduce energy use by improved cooperation between the partners and use of new technologies such as CHP and renewable fuel sources.

Cynergin’s team of technical, financial and procurement specialists produced the comprehensive business case for the project.

Simon Tilleard, Head of Engineering at the Natural History Museum stated: “The expertise and commitment of Cynergin was instrumental in the development and submission of a professional bid that complied with strict Treasury rules and timescales. This greatly improved our chances of success”

Nick Ray, Director of Cynergin Consultants, stated that “we are absolutely delighted to be awarded a contract from such prestigious institutions. They are at the forefront of the drive to conserve energy and reduce emissions through innovation and strategic cooperation and we are pleased to play our part in their achievements”

Further information can be obtained from: enquiries@cynerginconsultants.com